Ball-bearing.



No. 678,619.` Patented lluly I6, l90l.

` A. F. HUWE & IE. C. OWEN.

BALL BEARING.

(Application Bled July 14, 1900.) (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet I.

Na 578,6l9. Panted lly I6, l90. A. F. HOWE &. E. C. OWEN.

BALL BEARING.

(Applicwiun led July X4, 1900.) (No Model.) 2 Sheeis-Sheet 2.

/ATTESV INVENTUM- Niva arnir Enron.

ANDREW FRANCISIIOWE AND ELMO CLARENCE OWEN, OE GRANITE CITY,

ILLINOIS.

BiALLWBEARING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 678,619, dated July 16, 1901.

Application led July 14:, 1900.

To @ZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that we, ANDREW FRANCIS HOWE and ELMO CLARENCE OWEN, citizens of the United States, residing at Granite City, in the county of Madison and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ball-Bearings; and we do hereby declare the following to be afull, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which itappertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to a new and useful improvement in antifrictional bearings of that type commonly known as @ball-bearings, and is designed particularly, but not necessarily, for axles for cars, it being obvious, however, that the device is equally-adapted to any revoluble element having a stationary bearing. l

The object of this invention is to provide a simple ball-bearing for axles, shafts, dre., which is easily assembled or taken apart for repairs and one which will adequately withstand service.

We attain the objects to which We have above referred by the construction illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a transverse sectional view of a car-truck, taken longitudinally with respect to the axle. Fig. 2 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view of one journal-box, illustrating one end of the axle of our improved bearing in position therein. Fig. 3 is a detail cross-sectional view through the axle and its carried sleeve, employed in carrying out our invention. Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view of the nut employed in carrying out our invention when the same is arranged upon a newly-constructed axle. Fig. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view of a journal-box and our improved bearing, illustrating the construction employed when the saine is arranged on the usual form of car-axle. Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view thereof, taken on the line 6 6 of Fig. 5; and Fig. 7 is an enlarged detail sectional view of one of the balls, a portion of the sleeve, and two of the rings employed in carrying out our invention.

In the drawings, wherein like characters designate like parts throughout the several views, A represents the journal-boxes, B the Serial No. 239665. (No model.)

upper arch-bars, C the lower arch-bars, D

Aupon these journals and abutting against the shoulders f are sleeves H. These sleeves H `are housed Within the journal-boxes A and cooperate, through the instrumentality of a plurality of balls, with a plurality of rings I, non-rotatably arranged in said journal-boxes, as will hereinafter be more fully explained. While in the foregoing We have referred to an entireraxle,both of its journal-boxes, the sleeve for each journal, their coperating plurality of rings and balls, we will in the following refer to the parts in the singular number-that is, we will confine vour description to only one bearing for the axle.

Referring again to Figs. l to 4 of the drawings, it will be seen that we have formed a flat longitudinal face on the journal portion I1" of the axle and have provided a corresponding flat face adjacent the boss of the sleeve H, and by which construction when the sleeve is properly placed upon the journal independent rotary movement between the parts is prevented. This sleeve H is provided upon its periphery with a plurality of circumferential grooves 7L, and at its innermost end is arranged a circumferential flange h,the outer side face of which is provided with a concentric groove h".

In the foregoing we have referred to a plurality of rings I, and for the purpose of distinction we will indicate the innermost and outermost rings ot' the series as I and I, respectively, and the intermediate rings I". The intermediate rings IHare provided with annular recesses c' at each end, adjacent the bore thereof, While the rings I' and I are provided with an annular recess 'i' at only one end, said recesses being formed in the inner faces Aof rings I and I. These rings IOC) groove i", arranged in their outer and inner faces, respectively, the former being of a diameter equal to the diameter of the concentric groove It" of the sleeve H. When the rings I', I, and I are strung upon the sleeve H, the recess or groeve i of the ,ring I registers with the recess or groove h, and the recesses e' and t" register with the grooves h, and fin the race formed by these recesses or grooves i and h a plurality of balls l are arranged, while in the race formed by the grooves t' and t" and h a plurality of balls 2 are arranged.

J represents a collar loosely arranged on the journal portion F of the axle and is provided upon its inner side face with a concentric groove j of such diameter as to register with the groove i, formed in the outer face of the ring I, and in the race formed by these grooves j and t are arranged a plurality of balls 3.

The outer end ot' the journal portion F of the axle is provided with a male screw-thread, upon vwhich is arranged a nut K, the same being designed to impinge against and hold in place the collar J, and by which construction outward longitudinal movement of said collar, sleeve H, and the rings I, I', and I" is prevented. This nut K is provided with one or more radially-disposed set-screws designed to impinge against the screw-threaded portion of the journal portion F of the axle for preventing its independent rotation.

Referring now to the construction illustrated in Figs. 5 to 7, inclusive, wherein a collared axle is employed, it will be seen that the only change we have made in the parts is in the construction of the sleeve, which is constructed of separate pieces, the purpose of which will be presently explained.

The usual construction of a collared journal-axle is illustrated in Fig. 5, wherein it will be seen that the journal portion F is formed suiliciently inward from the end of the axle to leave a collar F, and by which construction a shoulderf is formed, theshoulder fat the other end of the journal portion of the axle being the same as that described in the construction illustrated in Figs. l to 4E,inclusive. It is essential to have the sleeve which is carried by the journal portion of the axle tightly fit thereon, and as it is impossible to arrange on said journal portion an integral sleeve we have formed the same ot' three membersthat is, two semicylindrical members H and a cylindrical member H. Y The inner ends of the members H' are provided with a iiange h4, the same being received in a recess h5, formed in the inner end of the member H, which latter is provided with a flange h6, formed on its inner end, said flange h6 having formed in its outer side face a concentric recess h7. To prevent independent movement between the members H and the n journal portion of the axle, we may screw the which iiat face or faces engages a flat face or faces hi, formed adjacent the bore of the member H", and by which construction independent rotary movement between said member and the members H is prevented,as is obvious. The rings I, I', and I, employed in this construction, are the same as the rings employed in the construction illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive. In this construction we also make use of the collar J, having the groove j, which collar isl held in position on the members H' adjacent the member H and the ring I" by the nut K, which latter engages the screwthreaded ends of the members H', it being understood that the diameter of the members H when in position on the axle is somewhat greater than the diameter of the collar F of said axle, and by which construction the member H, collar J, and nut K are permitted to pass over said collar F.

' If it is desired to lubricate our improved bearing, we may make use of an oil-cup M, arranged in the upper face of thejournal-box, said oil-cup communicating with a duct m, so arranged as to distribute oil to, over, and between the rings I, and by which construction oil may be conveyed to the ball-races.

By the construction of our improved antifrictional bearing it will be seen that we not only provide for the rotatory movement of the axle, but also take care of the end thrust of the same, which occurs in rounding curves, crossing switches, and by the vibration of the car.

We are aware that minor changes in the construction, arrangement, and combination of the several parts of our device can be made and substituted for those herein shown and described without in the least departing from the nature and principle of our invention. For instance, while we have illustrated and described our invention as applied to a caraxle it is obvious that the same can as well be employed in connection with any revoluble shaft, and also that while we have designed the bearingillustrated for a revoluble axle or shaft the same could as well be stationary and the wheel-hub serve as the equivalent of the journal-box, in which event the rings I would be locked to said hub and revolve therewith.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. In a ball-bearing, the combination with a rotatable axle having a journal portion at its end by which a shoulder is formed, said journal portion having a flat face, of a sleeve arranged on said journal portion and abutting against said shoulder, said sleeve being provided with a flat face cooperating with the flat face of the 'journal portion for preventing independent rotation of the parts, an annular flange on the inner end oi' the sleeve provided with a concentric groove, grooves in the periphery of the sleeve, a plurality of vrings strung on said sleeve and provided with recesses which register with the grooves of IOO IIO

we' 'a'A 'i l flat face cooperating with the flat face of the journal to prevent independent rotation of the parts, a flan-ge arranged on the inner end of the sleeve, said flange and the periphery of the body portionof the sleeve being provided with grooves for receiving balls, rings arranged on said sleeve and provided with recesses registering with the grooves in the sleeve, the end rings having grooves in their outer faces, the groove of the innermost ring registering with the groove in the sleeveflange, a collar arranged on the end of the journal portion of the axle and having a groove registering with the groove in the outer face of the outermost ring, balls arranged in the races so formed, and a journal-box coperating with the rings, substantially as described.

In a ball-bearing, the combination with a rotatable axle having a collared journal, of a sleeve arranged on the journal portion of said axle, said sleeve being composed of three members, two of said members being semicylindrical in shape and arranged to fit directly upon the journal portion of the axle, the third member being a hollow cylinder inclosing the two members first mentioned, grooves formed in the periphery of said third member, a plurality of rings loosely arranged on said sleeve and having recesses, balls arranged in the races so formed, and a journalbox receiving the rings and preventing rotation thereof, substantially as described.

4. In a ballbearing, the combination with a rotatable axle having a collared journal, of a sleeve arranged on the journal portion of said axle, said sleeve being composed of three members, two of which are semicylindrical in shape and fitted directly upon the journal between the collar and the shoulder of the journal, the third member being in the form of a hollow cylinder designed to slip over the collar and embrace the semicylindrical members, means for locking said sleeve the outermost ring, substantially as de-` scribed.

5. In a ball-bearing, the combination with a rotatable axle having a collared journal, of a sleeve arranged on the journal portion of said axle, said sleeve being composed of three members, two of said members being semicylindrical in shape and arranged to fit upon the journal portion of the axle, the inner ends of said semicylindrical members being provided with outwardly-disposed flanges, the third member being a hollow cylinder inclosing the two members first mentioned and abutting against the iianges at the inner end thereof, an outwardly-disposed flange on said inclosing member, grooves formed in the periphery of said third member, a plurality of rings loosely arranged on said third member and having recesses, balls in the races so formed, a nut K for holding the rings in position, and a j ournal-box receiving the rings and preventing rotation thereof, 4substantially as described.

6. In a ball-bearing for car-truck axles, the combination with a rotatable axle having journals at each end, of a sleeve arranged on the journal portions of said axle, said sleeves abutting at their inner ends against the' shoulder formed by the journal portion, outwardly-projecting flanges at the inner ends of the sleeves, means for locking-said sleeves against rotation on said journal portions of the axle, said sleeves being provided with peripheral grooves, a plurality of rings having recesses which register with said grooves, balls in the races so formed, nuts mounted on the ends of the journal portions of the i axle for holding said rings in position, and journal-boxes for inclosing and cooperating with said rings, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof we have affixed our signatures in presence of two witnesses.

ANDREW FRANCIS HOWE. `ELM() CLARENCE OWEN. Witnesses:

H. E. CHAMPION, YV. C. MILLER.

IOO 

